Minnesota Sports Forum

Speculation about the Wolves moving Bennett surfaced pre-draft but since then things have quieted down. Jay-Z just tweeted this and it sure doesn't sound good.

Jerry Zgoda ?@JerryZgoda 6m6 minutes ago

Ryan Saunders when asked why Anthony Bennett isn't here: "I believe it's a (Canada) national-team commitment but I'm not sure."



Have at it folks, what is your theory on future of the 2013 #1 overall pick?

I think it is about building suspense. He is working on his game and will come to camp and be the best #1 pick on our team. BOOK IT!

FWIW take it with a grain of salt or maybe even a salt block but I'll post this anyway.

@DWolfsonKSTP: Top #Twolves summer storyline for me: Heslip. Had 44 vs Bennett & others in a pro-am game in Toronto on Friday. He belongs on a roster, IMO.

@GBos2: @DWolfsonKSTP agree with you that he'd be worthy of the final spot, tho. Also, I'm gonna be upset if we dump Bennett simply just to dump him

@DWolfsonKSTP: @GBos2 Why? Even those who saw him Friday said he physically looks good. But so many other warts in a pro-am game of all places.

@thekylemonster: @DWolfsonKSTP @GBos2 Can you expand on the "warts" of Bennett in the Pro Am? I'm curious.


@DWolfsonKSTP: @thekylemonster @GBos2 Expanding on Twitter is borderline worthless. Physically, looks great. Mentally, checks out a lot. Get it factor low.

Volans19 wrote:Speculation about the Wolves moving Bennett surfaced pre-draft but since then things have quieted down. Jay-Z just tweeted this and it sure doesn't sound good.

Jerry Zgoda ?@JerryZgoda 6m6 minutes ago

Ryan Saunders when asked why Anthony Bennett isn't here: "I believe it's a (Canada) national-team commitment but I'm not sure."



Have at it folks, what is your theory on future of the 2013 #1 overall pick?

That is such a weird quote by Ryan. Of course he knows that AB is playing for the Canadian team and that practice started yesterday...Bennett committed to the Canadian team way back in January. Comments like this sure sound like the Wolves are trying to send a message that they don't want AB back. I'm not sure why this is a good strategy, unless they already have something in place that they haven't announced yet.

KG is now signed. Bjelica is now signed. And last year Flip specifically traded for Payne as a guy he wanted. I'd assume all three are ahead of AB for playing time at PF. Plus I assume Towns could slide over and play some PF at times so that's four guys ahead of AB. I have no idea how AB could possibly fit into the picture for this upcoming season. And as I've stated many times - I like AB! I just can't see him resurrecting his career here knowing he's probably behind all those guys.

Would anyone here trade AB for Markieff Morris? Is he too much of a jackass to take a chance on? He is on the hook for another 3 or 4 years I think. He is a helluva lot more effective than AB is though. I'd throw in Payne as well.

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:Would anyone here trade AB for Markieff Morris? Is he too much of a jackass to take a chance on? He is on the hook for another 3 or 4 years I think. He is a helluva lot more effective than AB is though. I'd throw in Payne as well.

They were talking about this on the KFAN board and people were saying he is a nutcase. 2nd most technicals last year then there was that incident in April with his brother where some dude got beat up. Supposedly he isn't getting along with the coach. I think I would pass one scout said he thought Bjelica was him only a better rebounder. Let's find out. :)

At this point I'd lean towards keeping Bennett unless we can get a future pick or asset for him. Our team is mostly set and we won't really gain any cap space so I don't see any point in dumping him. He's way down on the depth chart but he doesn't seem like someone who would cause problems due to lack of playing time. Let him work hard in practice and if/when our bigs get hurt he'll get another chance to hopefully show something.

Ryan Saunders when asked why Anthony Bennett isn't here: "I believe it's a (Canada) national-team commitment but I'm not sure."

(the scene: a shadowy parking garage somewhere in the Twin Cities Metro area, shortly after the end of the regular season)


Flip Saunders: Look, we just want him gone, ok?

Canadian Gangster: What, like gone gone?

Ryan Saunders: No, just someplace far away from Las Vegas.

Flip: Until we find a trade partner for him.

Canadian Gangster: Ok, I know I guy in Edmonton who . . .

Ryan: Don't tell us where he is or what he's doing, we don't want to know.

Flip: Just take care of it.

Canadian Gangster: Consider it done, eh.

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:Would anyone here trade AB for Markieff Morris? Is he too much of a jackass to take a chance on? He is on the hook for another 3 or 4 years I think. He is a helluva lot more effective than AB is though. I'd throw in Payne as well.

I can't imagine why we'd trade Bennett for Morris or any other PF. With Bennett or another PF obtained in return for Bennett, we would have 4 pure PFs in KG, Payne, Bjelica & Bennett/Morris/other. In addition we'd have 2 center/PF combos in Dieng and Towns. That's 6 roster players who play the PF position. And that's without Robbie Hummel. To say we have a glut at the PF position is a gross understatement.

Keeping Bennett makes the most sense because his contract comes off the books after this season and I don't see us getting anything of significant value in return for him right now. If we don't keep him, it would make sense to deal him for a PG since we have only one true PG backing up our starter and that one backup is a rookie who most experts don't see as a starting caliber PG. Otherwise, we should trade him solely for future draft picks and/or non-guaranteed contacts to clear a roster slot.